Born in Philadelphia to Vincent Panati and Catherine (Tamagno) Panati, Cynthia grew up in the world of Pennsylvania Democratic politics, her father having served as District Attorney of Philadelphia and later as Secretary of Revenue of Pennsylvania under Governor Leader.
A proud graduate of Ravenhill Academy of the Assumption, she later studied Interior Design at Drexel, graduating in 1968. She moved to Washington and began designing interiors for the General Services Administration (GSA). She left GSA after she married Mark Mancini at Holy Trinity Georgetown in 1978, but Cynthia never stopped designing for her own house or for any of the many friends who asked her. She worked tirelessly on the restoration of the Avalon Theater in Chevy Chase, DC, and she never met an auction house or an estate sale she did not love.
She traveled the world many times over, but always had a special affection for the dunes of Truro on Cape Cod.
She is survived by her husband Mark, her daughter Olivia (Amy) and Julia Whalen (Reynolds) and her two granddaughters Lillian Eve and Georgia Whalen, of Greenfield, Massachusetts. She was preceded in death by her brother Richard.
Those who wish may make a donation in Cynthia’s name to Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, Tavernier, Florida 33070.
A celebration of life is planned for late this spring.
